Recent UK and international cases show lawyers citing non-existent authorities generated by AI, leading to court sanctions and regulatory referrals. The authors stress that AI is not a substitute for human judgement and must be used with rigorous oversight. They recommend firms implement AI usage policies, compulsory training, and verification protocols.
Lawyers must always check AI-generated content against trusted sources before presenting it in court or to clients. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has already referred several practitioners for failing to do so.
The authors conclude that while AI offers cost savings and access to justice, it lacks empathy and experience—qualities only human lawyers can provide. Used wisely, AI is a powerful tool; used blindly, it’s a liability.
